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What You Didn’t Know About the Sophomore Send-Off
Updated: July 29, 2023
Originally Published: Oct. 11, 2015
What many people don’t mention about the sophomore send-off is that it can be just as tough as the freshman drop-off—perhaps even more so. This child of yours—the one you left at college, teary-eyed, just last spring—will return home as a young adult. A young adult who seems to need you less than he did the year before.
No one tells you, and certainly not your son, that he might be a bit unhappy about coming home for the summer. He may not be thrilled about sharing a space with his siblings again or having to follow your household rules. He’ll likely miss the independence he found at college and might even feel like your hometown isn’t quite home anymore.
What’s more, even though he’s become more self-sufficient, you’ll find yourself spending the summer preparing meals, tidying up, and doing his laundry. Part of you will embrace this, as it signifies that your beloved boy has returned home.
You might be surprised to see that this almost-adult will claim your entire couch during the first few days back—exhausted from finals, packing, and the fun of socializing. You’ll likely pause to watch him sleep, just as you did when he was a child, and wonder how time has flown by so quickly.
No one prepares you for the fact that this young man will still argue with his younger sibling about curfews, wet towels on the floor, and who drank the last of the milk—the same disputes you had when he was 15.
It’s a truth you might hesitate to admit, but you may feel a strange sense of relief when he heads back to school in August—just a tiny bit. When you scroll through social media and see others’ posts about dropping off their freshmen, smiling through tears, you may feel a mix of relief and sadness. That major milestone has come and gone.
When it’s finally time for him to leave again, your son will casually wave goodbye as he drives off. It won’t seem like a big deal to him; he’s got this. Yet, in that moment, your heart will swell with pride while simultaneously feeling a pang of sorrow.
No one tells you that everything you wished for him—new friendships, fresh experiences, independence, and personal growth—are what will take him further away from you. Deep down, you know that during his sophomore year, he will come home less frequently and continue to grow up. The next summer, or even the summer after that, he might be away for an internship or studying abroad.
You may not want to accept it, but the reality is that you might have just spent your last summer with your son.
If you’re interested in more about family dynamics, check out this insightful post on home insemination. For those looking into parenting resources, Make A Mom offers valuable information on home insemination kits. Additionally, for a comprehensive understanding of pregnancy and fertility, visit Healthline’s resource on IVF.
In summary, the sophomore send-off is a bittersweet experience filled with mixed emotions. While your child has grown more independent, their homecoming can spark nostalgia, pride, and a touch of sadness as you navigate this new phase of your relationship.